As we have a growing sense of cancel culture as well as a growing amount of information highlighting the terrible things people who have created seemingly amazing pieces of art have done. Can we separate the art from the artist? Or should we simply stop intaking content that is made by people who have done awful things?I want to start out by saying I’m not totally against cancel culture and I highly understand the reason for it. People keep getting away with doing awful things such as Harvey Weinstein. What he did was not okay, and he got what he deserved from the internet, but should others who do smaller things? Things that they can learn and grow from? And, the ones that definitely should be canceled, such as weinstein, should we ignore all of his art forever?

The thing is, even I don’t have a straight answer. The thought that art that many have devoted large portions of their life towards, some even slightly building their identity off of, would it be fair for them to have to stop enjoying art that they find to be so important within their world? Or is it worth it to not give money and support people who have harmed others? These are questions that I ponder when I think about turning on a harry potter movie (J.K. Rowling’s Tranphobia) or a Panic! At the Disco album (Brendon Urie using a slur and talking about his audience related fantasies on stage). And I don’t think that there is a straight answer. 

I know that I personally had to grow and learn things my whole life. I used to be transphobic when I was younger because, well, I didn’t understand it quite. And it wasn’t necessarily that I hated people, but I didn’t get them. I didn’t understand even non-binary people until it was explained to me. (Ironically, I now happen to identify as non-binary years after my seeming annoyance with it’s existance). My point being though, that people can grow and change. Unless it is a criminal offence, instead of ruining someone’s life and cyberbullying them and trying to get their career in the gutter, I would suggest treating such situations as a learning moment. We are all people, and most times, a little communication and conversation can lead to more understanding and change in one’s behavior, or at least a better understanding of the situation.

But in situations where someone has committed an offense, should we stop using their services? Does it make us complicit to keep contributing money and time into their creations? I personally have come to the conclusion that we should still be allowed to appreciate their art. I don’t have to like J.K. Rowling to enjoy her vast world of magic and mystery. I don’t have to like Brendon Urie to spend hours blasting P!ATD’s “Pretty Odd” album on end. Art is an expression, and if we limit ourselves to only enjoying expressions of those that we agree with, our enjoyment of life would be quite boring at times. Are there reasons for me to not like that person and hope for a change in their behavior? Yes, yes there is. But, I can still enjoy what they create, because at the end of the day, art is to be enjoyed, and if we can’t do that because the person who created it is the scum of the earth? Expression starts to disappear. 

So, go ahead, enjoy art. Make sure that you are aware that the art may have bad connotations and watch it in the right contexts. But watch art. Consume art. That’s what it’s meant to do, even if the creators of it deserve a good sock in the face.